Mel's Dilemma: Fight Charge or Protect Family

3/9/2011 11:00 AM PST

Mel's Dilemma: Fight Charge or Protect Family

Sources directly connected to Mel Gibson tell TMZ ... he's aware he's going to be charged with a crime, and is "agonizing" over the prospect of putting his family through a public, knock-down, drag-out trial.

We're told Mel is confident he will only be charged with a low-level misdemeanor. Nonetheless, he is uncertain if he has the stomach to endure a 1-year legal fight and is worried about the impact it will have on his children.

As TMZ has already reported, Mel will be criminally charged with a misdemeanor over the January 6, 2010 blowout between him and Oksana Grigorieva.

We're told the D.A. will file charges against Mel this week -- very possibly today.